Humidifier



G. D. HARRIS April 12, 1932.

HUMIDIFIER Original Filed April 14, 1926 INVENTOR, 230/0763 FYZY, BY

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 12, 1932 f UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE GORDON .D. HARRIS, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE INDUSTRIAL DRYER CORPORATION, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECT- HUMIDIFIER Application fi led April 14, 1926, Serial No, 101,868. Renewed November 6, 1929.

This invention is a humidifier, and the object in view is to impart a true humidity to air, i. e., to charge air with a determined moisture content by conducting the operations to attain a progressive increase in the moisture content of the air until the latter .attains the required saturation of moisture.

The air conditioned in accordance with my invention carries the desired percentage of heat and moisture, and such conditioned air is available for use in factories, machinery, and generally in other places.

In industrial plants of various kinds, the work on certain materials is facilitated by conducting the operations in the presence of a humid atmosphere, such as in paper maln'ng or conditioning, leather working, and in numerous industries. 7

According to my invention, air is circulated into contact with moisture laden elements of a character to freely give off moisture to the flowing air, whereby the air will become charged with moisture to a desirable extent, imparting a true humidity to the air. In a preferred form of apparatus, the humidification is accomplished economically by the simple operation of circulating air into contact with moist surfaces which are interposed in the line of flow of the air.

Other functions and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a humidifier embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the saturable moisture giving members and its supporting element.

In a practical embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings, a housing A is employed for containing the several mechanisms, and within which housing air is circu lated by the action of one or more blowers and exhausters. Obviously, the housing is, or may be, of any desired size and form, and it is constructed ina desirable way to preclud leakage of air. l

The chamber or space within the housing is divided by horizontal 'partitions b, 0, rela- 1 tively spaced to produce a succession of flow channels B, which open one into the other at' the opposite ends of the housing, the arrangement being such that the air flowing in one direction within one channel is free to enter the next channel, to flow therein in an opposite direction to the first channel, and to then flow into the other channels in succession, to the end that the air flows'in a tortuous path over an extended area. The partitions ,6, are joined to one end wall of the housing and extend horizontally therein toward the opposite wall,--but do not join therewith, and thus form openings from one flow channel into the next. partitions c are joined at one end to the oppo- In like manner, the

site wall of the housing and extend therein toward the other wall, terminating to leave the desired openings or spaces, Said partitions 6, a, are parallel and they constitute means for channeling the flow of air through an extended path within -a housing of the desired dimensions.

,F or circulating the air within the housing, it is desirable to use a blower or fan C at the entry to the flow channels, and an exhauster D at the exit of said flow channels.

The exhauster is employed, preferably, to induce the exit of the heavy moist or surcharged air which may become sluggish in its flow or its velocity may be decreased due to .the humidity imparted thereto, and to the interruption in the air flow occasioned by the tortuous flow channels and by the interposition in the line of flow of a multiplicity of the channels. The tanks are adapted to contain a suitable liquid, such as water, and with these tanks co-operate the members F, G, whichderive' their moisture from the liquid present in the tanks.

Within the flow channels and at a desirable distance above the tanks are rods f, g, which are appropriately secured in fixed horizontal positions quite close to the horizontal partitions 1), 0. These rods extend crosswise of the partitions b, c, and of the flow channels, and said rods afford means for supporting the saturable members F, G, within said flow channels. Although I have shown rods 7, g, for the support of said members F, G, it is obvious that said members F, G, may be supported b means other than the rods.

The mem ers F, G, are composed of material suitable for the'purpose. As shown each member comprises a piece of suitable fabric, of the required width and length, looped or doubled around its appropriate rod, as in Figures 1 and 3. and being suspended from said rod. The member is of such length that it extends from the rod downwardly into the tank, and thus the lower part of the suspended fabric dips into the liquid present within the tank so as to be immersed in such liquid, whereby the capillarity of the fabric takes up the liquid constantly, and such liquid is diffused or spread,

over the whole area of the suspended fabric in a manner to expose the liquid for contact with the air flowing within the channel.

I The width of each fabricmember is less than the width of the flow channel, and a multiplicity of members are suspended from the rods, see Figure 2. As shown, a desired number of fabrics G are on each rod g, and

{these fabrics G are separated or spaced relatively toeach other on the rod. A desired number of fabrics F are provided on each rod f, and are spaced thereon; but the fabrics F, .G, on adjacent rods are positioned in disalined or staggered order, so that each fabric F or G, is opposite to a space which separates two fabrics on each of two adjacent rods, see Figure 2. By spacing the looped fabrics on the rods, provision is made for the flow of air through the spaces which exist between the fabrics on the series of rods. but by arranging the adjacent series of fabrics in staggered order or dis-alined relation, the air flow is, in a measure, diverted or de- Qflected, with the attendant result of bafiiing the flow of air and of securing a more intimate or direct contact of the air with such staggered fabrics, the net result being to give off freely a large percentage of the moisture from the saturated fabrics, and to impart the desirable moisture content to the air as it flows within the channels B.

At certain seasons of the year, or under certain conditions of work in the factory, it is desirable to feed warm moist air into the radiator I for imparting heat units thereto,

and for raising-the temperature of the moist air as desired. The radiators shown are supplied with steam through suitable feed pipes, h, but, obviously, the steam supply may be turned on or off to meet the requirements of the service.

The operation is apparent from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings. Liquid is su plied in an ap propriate way to the tanks, and the fabric bafiies F. G, are saturated with moisture by the capillary action of said fabrics which dip into the liquid. The fans, C, D, are set into motion for blowing air into the fiow channels, and for exhausting moist air from the housing. The air flows within the channels B in .a tortuous path, over the liquid tanks, and

into contact with the suspended moisture saturated battles, the staggered arrangement of which diverts the line of flow of the air.

dergoing humidification, and a plurality ofradiators H are provided intermediate such .passes, said radiators supplying heat units to the air flowing within the passes, whereby heat units are available for evaporating water from the multiple saturated members F. The air flow within each pass is attended by a drop in temperature due to the exchange of heat for moisture, and to compensate for such drop in temperature, I provide the radiators H at the ends of the passes, said radiators supplying to the air the heat units required to condition the air for picking up moisture at the successive passes.

As the air flows within the first pass, it picks up the water vapor evaporated from the saturated bafiies, and thus attains a certain saturation attended by a drop in tempera- Vapor from the saturated baflies F within such second pass whereby there is a fursired saturation of moisture. In other words, the humidity is built up progressively by the air flow within the successive passes, and the air is conditioned by heat units which evaporate moisture from the saturated baflles interposed in the path of the air, whereby I am enabled to impart a true humidity to the air up to a desired or required degree of saturation.

The radiators H are equipped as usual with means for controlling them individually in order to control the heat units to be given to the air. Again, means, such as thermometers and hygrometers, are provided at the passes for indicating the condition (temperature and humidity) of the air. Such indicating means and the radiator controls provide the equipment, whereby the operator is enabled to control the humidification and temperature of the air delivered by the apparatus to the place where such air is utilized.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. In the art of conditioning air, the process which consists in saturating moisturegiving haflles with water and difiusing water vapor within each pass of a series of passes, circulating air within said passes successively and charging the air with water vapor, and introducing heat units into the air in the intervals between the successive passes, whereby the heat units condition the air for picking up the water vapor.

2. In the art of humidifying air, the process which consists in circulating air within a succession of flow channels, heating the air as it flows from one channel to the next, and difiusing moisture from saturated surfaces into the path of the air, whereby the moisture content of the air is progressively increased.

3. In a humidifier, a-houslng, means therein for producing a plurality of flow channels extending one alongside the other and.

with said channels connected at their ends to provide for the flow ofair successively from channel to channel, heating means in the path of the air and outside of the flow channels whereby air 'flowing within the channels is heated at successive stages, means for circulating air in said channels, and

means for difi'using water vapor within the flow channels.

4. hi a humidifier, a housing, a plurality of partitions arranged within the housing for producing a plurality of air flow channels extending one alongside the other and with said channels connected at their ends to provide for the flow of air successively from channel to channel, heating means in the path of said air outside of the channels and adjacent the ends of said partitions whereby air flowing within the channels is heated at successive stages, means for circulating air in'said channels, a series of tanks within the flow channels, and moisture diffusing baflles within said flow channels, said baflles dipping into the tanks. e

5. An air humidifier embodying a, .flow channel, a plurality of heating elements positioned within said flow channel, said heating elements being spaced relatively one to the other, means for circulating air within said flowchannel, whereby the air is heated at successive stages in the cycle of its flow within said flow channel and by heat from said heating elements, and a plurality of water absorbing devices operable for diffusing water vapors and positioned in spaced relation within the flow channel and in alternate order to said heating elements, whereby the flowing air is charged progressively with diffused water vapors.

6. An air humidifier embodying 9. HOW channel, a plurality of heating elements positioned within said flow channel, said heating elements being spaced relatively one to the other, a lurality of water absorbing devices for di using water vapor within said flow channel, said water absorbing and moisture diffusing devices alternating with said heating elements, and means for circulating air within the flow channel and into zones containing heat units emanating from the heating elements and into zones containing watervapors diflused from the moisture difinto the presence of the water vapors and ofthe heat units whereby the flowing air is alternately heated and charged with water vapors and the moisture content of the flowing air is increased progressively.

8. In the art of humidifying air, the process which consists in introducing heat units into air to be humidified at successive stages in the How of the air, diffusing water vapors into theair at successive stages, the diffusion of the water vapors alternating with the introduction of heat units, and circulating air into the presence successively of the heatunits and of the difiused water vapors whereby the flowing air picks up the heat. and water vapor and the moisture content of the air is increased progressively.

9. An air humidifier embodying a flow channel providing a succession of passes for the continuous flow of air, water absorbing devices in each pass for the difiusion therein of water vapor, whereby a succession of areas of moisture diffusion are provided within said flow channel, aplurality of heating elements positioned within the flow channel in spaces intermediate the succession of passes, said heating elements alternating with the water absorbing and vapor diflusing devices, and means for circulating air within the flow channel whereby air is conducted into the areas of the heating elements and the areas of water vapor diffusion and the moisture content of the flowing air is increased progressively.

10. In the art of humidifying air, the process which consists in alternately heating and difiusing water vapor into a moving body of air, whereby the moisture absorbing capacity of the air is augmented by the expansion due to heating and the moisture content is increased progressively.

11-. In the art of humidifying air, the process which consists in heating air at successive stages, and diflusing water vapor into the air at successive stages, the water.vap0rdiffusion stages alternating with the heating stages, whereby the moisture content of the air is augmented progressively.

12. In the art of humidifying air, the process which consists in heating air at successive stages, and diffusing water vapor into the air at stages alternating with said heating of the air, whereby the moisture content is augmented progressively.

13. In the art of humidifying air, the process which consists of radiating heat units in,

I. definite zones, diflfusing water vapors in other definite zones alternating with the zones of heat .radiation, and flowing air continuously within said alternating zones of heat radiation and water vapor difiusion for carrying heat units by the flowing air into the zones of water vapor difl'usion and exchanging heat for moisture whereby the air is conditioned by the presence of heat units for picking up the diffused water vapor and progressively increasing the. moisture con-' tent of the flowing air. Y

14. An apparatus for humidifying air comprising a flow channel for air to be humidified, a tank in said flow channel adapted to contain a body of liquid over which the air is passed to be humidified, a second flow channel positioned above the first flow channel and communicating therewith by means of a passageway, a tank in the last mentioned flow channel adapted to contain a body of liquid to further humidity the air, a heat exchange element positioned outside of the fiow channels and in the coma 

